Be More Human : Why Mental Health Care is Broken – and What We Can Do to Fix It

A call to action to reform our mental health system by focusing on prevention and holistic, compassionate care. Sharing stories of patients and pioneering practitioners, this book is full of inspiring stories and suggestions to enact meaningful change.

Why do people with mental health conditions die 15-20 years earlier than people without?Why is £100 million spent every year placing patients far from their homes?How did the question, 'What matters to you?' transform mental health care in Norway?We live in a country in which community is fading, inequality is growing, and discrimination is still far too common. At the same time, services dedicated to our wellbeing and mental health can feel less than human - ignoring or even adding to this growing crisis. Sir Norman Lamb - former Health Minister, NHS trust chair, and dedicated mental health campaigner - has seen the cracks in the system up close. In this book, he sets out to answer the questions above, and many others, uncovering the real reasons why our mental health services are failing. In its pages you'll read eye-opening stories from patients who have been let down, but you will also hear inspiring tales from trailblazers who are shaking things up with creative, community-first solutions. Sir Norman is clear - we need a mental health revolution - but what can we do to create mental health care which is more human?